Students were engaged when listening to a professor from Russia speak about the business world of his country. Nikolai Klushin, a professor from the University of Nizhni Novgorod in Russia, came to Cabrini to talk to students about historical events that occurred in Russia. Klushin was the senior teacher of English at Nizhni Novgorod Linguistic University from 1981-1995, the Professor-coordinator at Nizhni Novgorod Institute of Management and Business from 1995-1997, and now heads the English Department at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod.
Professor Vonya Womack, Instructor of Business Administration, opened the class with wise words to her students about how to look at different perspectives from other cultures with an open mind. She emphanzied on the importance of learning about different people’s backgrounds and where everyone came from.
“Perspectives of people should be not be judged before you know the person,” Womack said.
Klushin began with an attentive and interesting explanation of the history of Russia and where he was from, Nizni Novgorod. He explained the hardships and struggles that the Russian people had with their government.
“I am not a leader by nature, I’m lead,” Klushin said.
The Russian people had all the resources they needed to be successful, but the government continued to take their money and they were left poor. In 1991, the Russian society gained their independence and started to create their own businesses, and trading goods with Poland. Russia then gained knowledge in the car industry. This made their businesses become successful and the economy grew with people coming from all over the world. He explained how it was cheaper in Russia to purchase cars and they handled a lot of different car companies.Klushin always emphanzied the difference between America’s society and Russia’s society which was very intriguing and an eye-opener for all of the students. He also talked in dept about where he teaches at, Nizni Novgorod.
“Nizni Novgorod is the change that was happening and is still happening in Russia today,” Klushin said.
After a brief summary on the history of Russia, Klushin talked more about his personal life and was open to answering questions from the class. The questions ranged from the culture, the people, business in Russia, the media, and the education that students went through.
“People in Russia are full of hope, hope is the last thing to die,” Klushin said to a student’s question.
He made it important to discuss how Russia and America used to be enemies, but are now friends. Russia strives to be successful and has achieved that goal.
Klushin feels comfortable being in America today and was happy to come and talk to the students about Russia’s culture and his life.
“I am here, I feel at home here, Russians are the same,” Klushin said.
